Recent Activities of the developmentof geothermal Energy Yuzawa City ,northern part of Japan

November 20, 2017
Yuzawa city general affairs department planning section
Tsutomu Suga1

Outline of Yuzawa city
390 km north from Tokyo

Yuzawa cityTokyo◆Area：790.91 k㎡◆Population: 46,467（ as of September 30, 2017 ）◆The annual average temperature：12 ℃
2

Know as a City of Snow
◆Yuzawa city is the heaviest
snowfall area in the country.
◆The average temperatureduring January and February isbelow 0 ℃.
◆Amount of snow is about 1.5
meter in city area and about 4
meters in high elevation area.

January, 20113

Geothermal spots in Yuzawa city①◆Japan is located in active volcanic area, many hot springs exist.
◆In Yuzawa city has many hot springs (ONSEN) which have been
providing a great profit by tourism, bathing, and various uses of heat.
◆Past investigation has revealed and proven a significant geothermal
potential in southeastern part of the city, largely in Kurikoma quasinational park.
◆Southern area of Yuzawa city is considered one of the most active
geothermal area in Japan.

ONSEN SPA4

Geothermal spots in Yuzawa city②

Kawarage Jigoku(Kawarage fumarole area)

Kawarage Oyu Taki(Big Waterfall of hot water)5

Geothermal spots in Yuzawa city③

Oyasu-kyo Daifunto(A Great Onsen Fountain )6

Map showing geothermal development in Yuzawa city
Yuzawa city
Kijiyama-Shitanotai Area
(Under investigation)

Uenotai geothermal
power plant（Operating）

Wasabizawa geothermal power plant（Under construction）

Oyasu Area
(Under investigation)

7

Existing geothermal power plant
Uenotai geothermal power plant
The geothermal power plant
which is the 12th in Japan.
Power generation

Tohoku Electric Power Co.,Inc.

Steam producer

Tohoku Sustainable & Renewable Energy Co.,Inc.

Output of power generation

28,800 kW

Type, power generation

Single flash system

Total area of facilities≒182,000 ㎡

The number of wells

Production wells ：１３
Reinjection wells ：４

Commercial operating started March 4, 1994
8

The amount of electric power generation
Fiscal year

Output kWh（utilization rate）

2011

180,080,700 （71.4 ％）2012

227,331,700 （90.1 ％）2013

218,577,700 （86.6 ％）2014

210,512,000 （83.4 ％）2015

178,230,700 （70.5 ％）2016

181,068,300 （71.8 ％）■History
1979- Joint investigation(Tohoku Electric Power Co.,Inc. and Dowa Mining company)
1988- Simultaneous flow test and reservoir evaluation
1992- Construction start, power plant and steam gathering system
1994- Commercial power generation start
1997- Increased rated capacity（27,500 kW → 28,800 kW）
9

Uenotai geothermal power plant ①

Whole view

Aerial view
Photo cooperation： Tohoku Electric Power Co.,Inc.

10

Uenotai geothermal power plant②

Power plant main building

Cooling tower

Photo cooperation： Tohoku Electric Power Co.,Inc

11

The geothermal power plant being under constructionWasabizawa geothermal power plant
The large-scale geothermal power plant inJapan for the first time in about 23 years.
Developer

Yuzawa Geothermal Power Co.,Ltd. (YGP)

Shareholders

Electric Power Development Co.,Ltd.
Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY,INC

Rated capacity

42,000 kW

Type power generation

Double flash system

Total area of facilities≒157,000 ㎡

Planned number of wells
Planned commercial
operation

Production wells ：９
Reinjection wells ：７
May, 201912

■History
1993〜02

Intensive exploration by NEDO to promote private
activities (Wasabizawa and Akinomiya areas)2004〜09

Back up investigation by private operators (J-Power andMMC)

4/2010Establishment of Yuzawa Geothermal Power Co.,Ltd.

11/2014

Finish of Environmental Impact Assessment

5/2015Construction start, power plant and steam gatheringsystem.

5/2019Planned start, commercial power generation
13

Wasabizawa geothermal power plant ①
The large-scale geothermal power plant in Japanfor the first time in about 23 years.

Most areas are in the National forest.

14

Photo cooperation： Yuzawa Geothermal Poewr Co.,Ltd.

Wasabizawa geothermal power plant ②
Conceptional drawingof the facilities

The presentsituation

15
Photo cooperation： Yuzawa Geothermal Power Co.,Ltd.

Wasabizawa geothermal power plant③

16
Photo cooperation： Yuzawa Geothermal Power Co.,Ltd.

Geothermal development investigation spot①
Kijiyama-Shitanotai Area
（ In the Kurikoma quasi national park）■ Investigation Corporation
Tohoku Sustainable & Renewable Energy Co.,Inc. (TOUSEC)■History
2010 Exploration by NEDO
2011 Feasibility and environmental studies funded by METI2012 Detailed surface exploration by TOUSEC
2013 Drilled slim hole well（ KJ-1) andpressure monitoring well (KJ-2)
2014 Drilled exploratory well (KJ-３)
2015 Short term production test (KJ-１) and environmentalinvestigation.
2016 Prepare drilling pad and continued environmental investigation.
2017 Land preparation. Drilling exploratory well (KJ-4)
17

Kijiyama-Shitanotai Area①
June, 2017

November, 2017

Photo cooperation： Tohoku Sustainable & Renewable Energy Co.,Inc.

18

Kijiyama-Shitanotai Area②

Traditional ceremony for safety,prior to drilling operation

19
Photo cooperation： Tohoku Sustainable & Renewable Energy Co.,Inc.

Geothermal development investigation spot②
Oyasu Area（ In the Kurikoma quasi national park）■Investigation Corporation・Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd.
・INPEX CORPORATION
・Mitsui Oil Exploration CO.,LTD.
■History
2011 Detailed surface investigation (geology, geophysics and MT)2013 Drilled slim hole wells (OYE-１,２)
2014 Drilled slim hole wells (OYE-３,４）
2015 Drilled exploratory well (OYE-４）, Injection test,
Environmental investigation, Widening of forest road2016 Drilled exploratory wells(OYE-５,６) , Injection test,
Environmental investigation, Widening of forest road2017 Preparation of new drilling pad,
Drilled exploratory well(OYE-7), Short term production test20Oyasu Area①
Forest road widening

Photo cooperation： Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd.

21

Oyasu Area②
Short term production testOctober,2017

Photo cooperation： Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd.

22

Promotion of geothermal development by Yuzawa city
◆Utilizing geothermal resources has been placed as one of themajor measures of Yuzawa city, under the second
comprehensive promotion plan.
◆Development at each have established regional councils.
(For consensus with local residents and Spa operators)◆Organizing study tours and lecture to promote publicunderstandings.
◆Support from Yuzawa City Geothermal Development
Facilitation Council" and "City Council"

Each area has been going smoothly, without any voiceof dissent.
23

※ Factors◆Build a trust between developers and residents. (in-depthand open explanation of development projects)◆Peace of mind through the success case study of Uenotai
geothermal power plant for 23 years power generation.
( Including close monitoring of surrounding hot springs andsurface manifestations)◆Expectations of local revitalization of the residents by thegeothermal power plant operation.

Existing and prospecting geothermal projects havebeen going relatively smoothly.
Are hoping that development projects are underway
in Yuzawa city steadily, leading to acceleratedomestic geothermal energy development.
24Challenges and prospects※Proper guidance of development projects aimed at new entrants.
（Feed-in Tariff system for renewable energy）※Improve the skills of city officials in charge of★ Guidance and advice from the experts.
・Yuzawa city geothermal development Advisor
・Advisory Committee in JOGMEC(Japan Oil, Gas and Metal National Corporation)※ The creation of further regional contribution from geothermaldevelopers. （Geothermal power plants and regional
coexistence and co-prosperity, Direct benefits for communities）※Development of thermal utilization project .(as a regional
industry revitalization)25

Direct Use of Geothermal Heat
In Yuzawa city, geothermal heat from Oyasu hot spring water has
been direct used as shown the pictures.
Worth to seek the possibility of direct using from the power plantdisposal heat in the future.

26

Concluding remarks
The first priorities in developing the renewable resources are toobtain the firm trust from local residents and to protect the naturalenvironment and landscapes, including the hot springs andmanifestations.
The development of renewable resources can be achieved onlyafter clearing those conditions.
⇒⇒⇒⇒ In most important in the any country.
Geothermal power has been viewed by Yuzawa City as somethingthat can generate business and profits in addition to its
sustainability and the least emission, so as a municipality Yuzawa is
to actively coordinate between local residents and developers.
We will promote geothermal development（Promotion of therenewable energy） to lead to regional revitalization and tocontribute to energy independence and global warming
prevention.

Thank you27